The exotic destination I selected for my wife and I this year was Greer, South Carolina. Why Greer? It is home to BMW’s U.S. Rider Academy, arguably one of the top motorcycle training facilities in North America. I signed up for a five-day motorcycle bootcamp, which consists of two days on pavement, two days off-road and one day out and back in the Blue Ridge Mountains north … [Read more...] about BMW U.S. Rider Academy: An Investment in Yourself
off road
Vintage Adventures in the Athens 100
Why do you ride motorcycles? There’s no wrong answer, in fact most are probably right. My answer for why I ride? It’s fun. There’s also something inherently innocent and childlike about it. The fact that a bike provides you with a promise of freedom and exploration, an escape from reality, or a way to truly experience it. My bikes now offer the chance to ride anywhere, whether … [Read more...] about Vintage Adventures in the Athens 100
Flying on the ground: A tour to the Helen Balloon Festival
I have motorcycles. A bunch. New ones, old ones. And I ride a lot, nearly every day. Short, far, sometimes for months at a time. Riding is its own unique sensation and operation, and I think that’s why I enjoy it so much. Sometimes if I ride long enough, it even feels like I’m flying. I wonder what it’s like to fly — don’t you? Maybe you know, maybe you’re a pilot or fly … [Read more...] about Flying on the ground: A tour to the Helen Balloon Festival
The Royal Enfield 350: Building a scrambler and a few adventures
When I decided to explore more of Western North Carolina, I knew I needed a motorcycle that could handle diverse terrain and let me venture off the beaten path. After careful consideration, I chose the Royal Enfield Hunter 350 and began converting it into a scrambler. This decision was driven by several key factors, all aimed at maximizing my ability to explore both paved … [Read more...] about The Royal Enfield 350: Building a scrambler and a few adventures
Old School Cool: Dirt bike passion hit Dean Pieranunzi early
At 16, Dean Pieranunzi began his affinity for riding with a friend’s old dirt bike, sparking a passion for vintage motorcycles and restoring dirt bikes from the ’70s. Shortly after he discovered his love for bikes, he bought a 1,000cc Japanese super sport, a bike that proved much too powerful for a teenager. Now Pieranunzi, a carpenter, musician and vintage bike aficionado, … [Read more...] about Old School Cool: Dirt bike passion hit Dean Pieranunzi early